Armed Forces Minister Penny Mordaunt has spent almost three days visiting British Forces Cyprus this week to thank UK personnel directly involved in the fight against ISIL.

During her first visit to RAF Akrotiri, she met with personnel from 903 Expeditionary Air Wing who are providing the UK’s substantial contribution to coalition air operations against ISIL. The Minister discussed the campaign and spoke to pilots who are flying daily Tornado GR4 combat and surveillance missions as the UK continues to play a leading role supporting Iraqi ground forces. She was also briefed on the role of the Resident Infantry Battalions and policing within the Sovereign Base Areas at Dhekelia and Ayios Nikolaos.

During her visit to the Unit Penny Mordaunt said:

There are hundreds of British personnel working hard in this region to tackle the scourge that is ISIL, which is why I’ve been proud to visit Akrotiri for the first time as a minister and to learn more about their contributions.

The men and women of Akrotiri and Britain’s other bases in Cyprus play a vital role in improving security and so its right that we thank them for what they do.

The Minister was given a tour of a Tornado GR4, one of the key niche capabilities the UK is offering to coalition operations, before travelling to Nicosia to meet with British troops posted to the island’s capital as part of the United Nations peacekeeping force. While in Nicosia, she also visited with the British High Commission and met with the Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, the Cypriot Defence Minister Christoforos Fokaides and the Chief of the National Guard Lieutenant General Georgios Basiakoulis.